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Review #84: An American Werewolf In London
Two American tourists, David and Jack, find themselves in the middle of nowhere in the English Countryside.
Happening upon a rather gothic looking pub called The Slaughtered Lamb, they meet a bunch of dark soulled locals who warn them to stay off the Moors at night.
The pair laugh it off as some sort of local paranoia and head off across the foggy wasteland on foot, giggling and laughing between them about the strange people they've just met.
Sadly though, they meet something unearthly and incredibly violent. Jack is killed and David is almost mortally wounded.
Upon waking in a London hospital, David realises a horrible truth about the thing that attacked him and his friend, and has to rely on a kindly nurse to help him.
The movie is an absolute classic in the Werewolf genre and wrote many of the current lores used in modern Werewolf movies.
What makes the movie work more than anything else is that it's incredible small in scope and relies mainly on using basic plot devices in very small amounts, love, fear, horror, urban legends etc.
It's when the small scale feel of the movie is mixed with the seriously impressive special effects that the movie really makes it's mark.
The transformation scene set the benchmark not just for Werewolf movies, but for all puppetry movies since, and is always the thing about the movie that people talk about.
The effects used for the wolf itself are also absolutely top notch.
By modern standard, I've yet to see a movie that makes such a statement in regard to puppetry and effects.
There are other effects utilised in the movie too when it comes to the undead. Especially the makeup used when Jack appears to David in visions.
As far as the actual storyline goes, it's very simplistic but really well put together. The movie itself is more about David's confusion and fear about what's happening to him and the horror factor of the Werewolf, though there is a small love story thrown in for good measure.
The acting is a little touch and go though.
David Naughton as the American Werewolf is a little wooden but strangely, it feels right. His naivety in the circumstances works brilliantly.
Jenny Agutter as the Nurse, Alex Price is at her usual. She's professional and is believable.
Some of the supporting actors are a little wooden too with the exception of the locals in the Slaughtered Lamb.
Brian Glover (Alien 3, Dixon Of Dock Green), David Schofield (Pirates Of The Caribbean, Gladiator, From Hell) and Rik Mayall (Bottom, Drop Dead Fred) are just a handful of future stars that make small appearances in the film.
With the obligatory sex scene with Agutter, the movie is definitely a must see
All in all, a genuinely scary-in-places horror and definitely a benchmark for special effects and makeup.
A simple story and low tone movie, but utilised brilliantly and is the Grandaddy of modern Werewolf Lore.
My rating 94%
Two American tourists, David and Jack, find themselves in the middle of nowhere in the English Countryside.
Happening upon a rather gothic looking pub called The Slaughtered Lamb, they meet a bunch of dark soulled locals who warn them to stay off the Moors at night.
The pair laugh it off as some sort of local paranoia and head off across the foggy wasteland on foot, giggling and laughing between them about the strange people they've just met.
Sadly though, they meet something unearthly and incredibly violent. Jack is killed and David is almost mortally wounded.
Upon waking in a London hospital, David realises a horrible truth about the thing that attacked him and his friend, and has to rely on a kindly nurse to help him.
The movie is an absolute classic in the Werewolf genre and wrote many of the current lores used in modern Werewolf movies.
What makes the movie work more than anything else is that it's incredible small in scope and relies mainly on using basic plot devices in very small amounts, love, fear, horror, urban legends etc.
It's when the small scale feel of the movie is mixed with the seriously impressive special effects that the movie really makes it's mark.
The transformation scene set the benchmark not just for Werewolf movies, but for all puppetry movies since, and is always the thing about the movie that people talk about.
The effects used for the wolf itself are also absolutely top notch.
By modern standard, I've yet to see a movie that makes such a statement in regard to puppetry and effects.
There are other effects utilised in the movie too when it comes to the undead. Especially the makeup used when Jack appears to David in visions.
As far as the actual storyline goes, it's very simplistic but really well put together. The movie itself is more about David's confusion and fear about what's happening to him and the horror factor of the Werewolf, though there is a small love story thrown in for good measure.
The acting is a little touch and go though.
David Naughton as the American Werewolf is a little wooden but strangely, it feels right. His naivety in the circumstances works brilliantly.
Jenny Agutter as the Nurse, Alex Price is at her usual. She's professional and is believable.
Some of the supporting actors are a little wooden too with the exception of the locals in the Slaughtered Lamb.
Brian Glover (Alien 3, Dixon Of Dock Green), David Schofield (Pirates Of The Caribbean, Gladiator, From Hell) and Rik Mayall (Bottom, Drop Dead Fred) are just a handful of future stars that make small appearances in the film.
With the obligatory sex scene with Agutter, the movie is definitely a must see
All in all, a genuinely scary-in-places horror and definitely a benchmark for special effects and makeup.
A simple story and low tone movie, but utilised brilliantly and is the Grandaddy of modern Werewolf Lore.
My rating 94%
